The story of
Father of Philippine
Independence Day
By
MARK
DE GUZMAN FABELLA
Being a teacher, I look
at the classroom as one of the best places where one can find people of
different circumstances but with a common view – to stop at nothing to get an
education and to change one’s life. This perspective is something my
grandfather Gabriel, also a teacher, lived and breathed during his lifetime.
A local of the island
of Banton, Province of Romblon, my
grandpa Gabriel Fabella “must have been six - or seven-years old when he was
introduced to the "Cartilla,” a booklet from which children learn the alphabet. In 1906, he entered public school where he
finished primary schooling. Promotion at that time from one grade level to
another was very rigid and getting stressed from classroom work was no alien
circumstance for Gabriel. Though he came from a very poor family, he was able
to obtain a pension (very similar to a scholarship allowance). He completed his
intermediate education in the nearby island of Romblon, the provincial capital.
He
later joined his elder brothers in Manila; then world-renowed as a city where
“the greatest annual event in the orient is celebrated,” the Manila Carnival.
From his modest, small island-based school, Gabriel enrolled in the Manila High
School, located at the former “bastion of Spanish governance,” Intramuros.
Being aware that his parents where in no position to finance his education,
Gabriel had to do odd jobs like selling newspapers during cold Saturday mornings;
delivering food rations to laborers in the Port Area, and by being a shoeshine
boy at the Parian Gate where he had to endure afternoon Manila heat. Gabriel
had to teach himself to rigidly appropriate time going over his classroom notes
as he was determined to “do better” every year. While in high school, Gabriel
earned the friendship of a good number of classmates who later made a name for
themselves in the world of politics like Julio Nalundasan (representative from
Ilocos Norte) and Carlos P. Romulo (UN President), among others. After high
school, Gabriel wasted no time in Manila and returned to Ibajay, Capiz to teach
in an elementary school. Even at that time, he already knew that he wanted to
use education to change the lives of others.
Love for teaching
In
June 1919, acting under the advice of his
companions from Capiz, and of his brothers who saw that he liked teaching,
Gabriel eagerly enrolled at the Philippine Normal School, an institution for
training teachers, and later, at the University of the Philippines. As he did
in high school, Gabriel did odd jobs while studying in an institution where
students even at present are having difficulty finishing one degree. Gabriel in
due course graduated in UP-Manila with three degrees – an HSTC, an AB and a
BSE. His hard work and perseverance paid off.
Having
received what former Jones Municipality President Rufo Faigao called “tatlong
Kalawit,” Gabriel zealously put his plan on becoming a teacher to motion. Upon
the invitation of then Romblon Superintendent Salustiano Vibar, Gabriel taught
at Romblon High School. While teaching, Gabriel saw for himself the harsh
reality of scare resources like books which students badly craved for. As if
managing a big classroom, Gabriel facilitated fund raising projects by
conscientiously writing and facilitating plays like For Better or for Worse,
Constancy, The Pedagogue, and Mina de Oro. In contrast to what many present
business-minded educators would have done, Gabriel spent every centavo
generated in the play presentations to purchase books for the schoolchildren.
Upon
the invitation of the UP History Department Chair and later Dean of Liberal
Arts Prof. Leandro Fernandez, Gabriel started teaching in UP. In 1931, he
finished his master’s degree in UP and in 1934, his bachelor of laws in the
University of Manila. He did both by thoroughly budgeting his time while
teaching in a prestigious university.
The Assemblyman
In
1935, and with the urging from friends, Gabriel decided to take his advocacy to
the next level by filing his candidacy for the assemblyman position. He was
well aware that he would be facing the incumbent Leonardo Festin. At that time,
Festin seemed to have Goliath by his side. Festin had well-established
political machinery, had the financial resources, was floor leader of the
majority party (Nationalista), and had then President Manuel L. Quezon as
endorser. Gabriel was a mere college professor. Despite his being a newcomer in
the world of politics, friends were confident that Gabriel had a good chance of
winning. One of the reasons according to supporters was Gabriel impressive
educational attainment, having finished five degrees. His opponent only had
one. Quezon himself recognized Gabriel as a political threat to Festin, a good
friend and a political ally to the Chief Executive, and tried to discourage
Gabriel from running against the incumbent assemblyman. However, seeing that
this is his “chance to serve his people,” Gabriel made it known that he would
not withdraw his candidacy.
At
a time when cellphones and the internet were not even in people’s imaginations
and with only P189 in hand which he borrowed from his insurance, Gabriel
launched a whirlwind campaign in his province’s major islands: Romblon, Tablas,
Sibuyan, Simara, Maestro De Campo, and Banton. In contrast to the present where
politicians have the luxury of cars, helicopters and even planes, Gabriel
campaigned from one island to another using modest means of transportation like
curicanan, a small sailboat that carried only three or four people. Despite
limited resources and campaign time, Gabriel though facing voter’s with the
knack for discernment, overwhelmingly won the election and became assemblyman
of Romblon.
As
assemblyman, Gabriel made sure that his long-held priority of education would
be the focus of his political program. Most of his “share of pork barrel went
to schools and only about 20 percent, to roads and other similar projects.” The rest of his pork barrel was used for the
scholarship of some “40 to 50” Romblomanons, some of whom became high ranking
government officials. Gabriel chose not to run again after one term in
congress. He arrived at an epiphany that “there is no money in politics unless
one plays crooked,” a quality he detested. After his stint in politics, Gabriel
returned to his old love “to be humble professor, and to do one’s bit for
humanity.”
Gabriel’s
dedication to the youth’s education was again demonstrated when during the
latter part of 1945, and while still barely recovering from the war, he helped
build school corporation named Southern Mindoro Academy. On the same year, he
organized another school, the Bagumbayan High School (later Fabella High
School). With the conclusion of World
War II, Gabriel, in 1946 resumed his professorial post in U.P. Gabriel,
however, did not only busy himself with teaching. In 1948, he co-facilitated
the establishment of three more schools, Romblon College, Tablas Academy, and Banton High School. Two more schools which
Gabriel helped organize were: San Mariano Academy (1964), and the Southeastern
Academy (1965). These accomplishments led to Gabriel having been elected as
first president of the Philippine Association of Secondary Schools and “served
in that capacity from 1956 to 1960).”
The significance of June 12
In
1954, while attending the celebration of General Emilio Aguinaldo’s declaration
of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite, Gabriel notice veterans of the
revolution. He saw aged patriots, braving the sweltering heat, cherishing the
ultimate symbol of their patriotism, June 12, 1898, a date which at that time
was not yet fully acknowledged by the Filipino Nation. Gabriel also realized
that Aguinaldo had yet been given recognition for his services to his country.
Purpose-driven, Gabriel began nurturing in his classroom discussions the idea
that the Philippine Independence day should be celebrated not on the 4th
of July but on the 12th of June.
Eventually,
Gabriel’s idea was ventilated through several articles in the UP publication
Philippine Collegian which culminated in the July 1, 1956 issue of Sunday Times
Magazine. Being founder/co-founder, and first president of the Philippine
Historical Association (1955), Gabriel, through the Historical Bulletin and the
PHA 1960 resolution, determinedly emphasized his stand. Copies of the
resolution were later sent to all members of the Congress to newspapers, and to
then President Diosdado Macapagal. Gabriel’s efforts paid off when President
Macapagal in 1962, issued Proclamation No. 28 declaring June 12 as Independence
Day. The new celebration date was made permanent when in a special Congress
session in 1964, Republic Act No. 4166 was signed officially declaring June 12
the official Independence Day; thus, making him the Father of Philippine
Independence Day.
Gabriel
contentedly witnessed his triumph when the nation celebrated the occasion that
was centered in New Luneta, Manila. General Aguinaldo was devotedly present. A
miniature reproduction of Aguinaldo’s Kawit home was placed as part of the
simulation which included the reading of the proclamation, playing of the
National Anthem and the signing of the declaration.
Gabriel
Fabella saw that through education and by becoming a teacher, one can become
closer to the community and that work can echo beyond the walls of the ivory
tower that is the classroom. Clearly he persevered and won against seemingly
insurmountable odds to obtain his education, and fruitfully achieved exactly
what he wanted, to do one’s bit for humanity.
Author:
Mark
De Guzman Fabella is a faculty
member in the College of Arts and Sciences, University of the East, Manila.
(Reprint
from Philippine Star Features, June 12, 2012)
